Free positioning charging pad

ABSTRACT

Systems, methods and apparatus for wireless charging are disclosed. An apparatus has a wireless charging apparatus has a battery charging power source coupled to a charging circuit, a plurality of charging cells configured to provide a charging surface, and a controller. The controller may be configured to provide a pulse to the charging circuit, detect a frequency of oscillation of the charging circuit responsive to the pulse or a rate of decay of the oscillation of the charging circuit, and determine that a chargeable device has been placed in proximity to a coil of the charging circuit based on changes in a characteristic of the charging circuit. The pulse may have a duration that is less than half the period of a nominal resonant frequency of the charging circuit.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority to and the benefit of provisionalpatent application No. 62/634,799 filed in the United States PatentOffice on Feb. 23, 2018, of provisional patent application No.62/784,667 filed in the United States Patent Office on Dec. 24, 2018,and of provisional patent application No. 62/794,541 filed in the UnitedStates Patent Office on Jan. 18, 2019, the entire content of whichapplications are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forthbelow in their entirety and for all applicable purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to wireless charging ofbatteries, including batteries in mobile computing devices.

BACKGROUND

Wireless charging systems have been deployed to enable certain types ofdevices to charge internal batteries without the use of a physicalcharging connection. Devices that can take advantage of wirelesscharging include mobile processing and/or communication devices.Standards, such as the Qi standard defined by the Wireless PowerConsortium enable devices manufactured by a first supplier to bewirelessly charged using a charger manufactured by a second supplier.Standards for wireless charging are optimized for relatively simpleconfigurations of devices and tend to provide basic chargingcapabilities.

Conventional wireless charging systems typically use a “Ping” todetermine if a receiving device is present on or proximate to atransmitting coil in a base station for wireless charging. Thetransmitter coil has an inductance (L) and, a resonant capacitor thathas a capacitance (C) is coupled to the transmitting coil to obtain aresonant LC circuit. A Ping is produced by delivering power to theresonant LC circuit. Power is applied for a duration of time (90 ms inone example) while the transmitter listens for a response from areceiving device. The response may be provided in a signal encoded usingAmplitude Shift Key (ASK) modulation. This conventional Ping-basedapproach can be slow due to the 90 ms duration, and can dissipate largeand significant amount of energy, which may amount to 80 mJ per Ping. Inone example, a typical transmitting base station may ping as fast as12.5 times a second (period=1/80 ms) with a power consumption of (80mJ*12.5) per second=1 W. In practice most, designs trade offresponsiveness for a lower quiescent power draw by lowering the pingrate. As an example, a transmitter may ping 5 times a second with aresultant power draw of 400 mW.

Tradeoffs are generally possible for base stations that employ a singletransmitting coil, because a ping rate of 5 times a second is usuallysufficient to detect a device within 1 second of its placement on acharging pad. However, for a multi-coil free position charging pad,responsiveness and quiescent power draw characteristics may be impaired.For example, 35 pings per second would be required to produce 5 pingsper second on each transmitting coil of a 7-coil, free position chargingpad scanning. Given the power limits defined by design specifications,the 7-coil, a free position charging pad has a response rate that isgreater than 1.78 seconds, which is typically unacceptable for userexperience and may violate regulatory power standards or power budgetsfor battery powered designs.

Improvements in wireless charging capabilities are required to supportcontinually increasing complexity of mobile devices and changing formfactors. For example, there is a need for a faster, lower powerdetection techniques.

SUMMARY

Certain aspects disclosed herein relate to improved wireless chargingtechniques. In one aspect of the disclosure, a method for detecting anobject includes providing a pulse to a charging circuit, detecting afrequency of oscillation of the charging circuit responsive to the pulseor a rate of decay of the oscillation of the charging circuit, anddetermining that a chargeable device has been placed in proximity to acoil of the charging circuit based on changes in a characteristic of thecharging circuit. The pulse may have a duration that is less than halfthe period of a nominal resonant frequency of the charging circuit.

In certain aspects, the change in the characteristic of the chargingcircuit causes a change in rate of decay of the oscillation of thecharging circuit. The change in the characteristic of the chargingcircuit may cause the frequency of oscillation of the charging circuitto vary with respect to the resonant frequency of the charging circuit.

In certain aspects, the method includes determining a chargingconfiguration for the chargeable device when the coil of the chargingcircuit is inductively coupled to a receiving coil in the chargeabledevice, and providing a charging current to the charging circuit inaccordance with the charging configuration. Determining the chargingconfiguration for the chargeable device may include selecting a baselinecharging configuration as the charging configuration. Determining thecharging configuration for the chargeable device may includetransmitting an active ping in accordance with standards-definedspecifications for charging the chargeable device, and identifying thechargeable device from information encoded in a modulated signalreceived from the chargeable device. Determining the chargingconfiguration for the chargeable device may include negotiating thecharging configuration with the chargeable device to provide an extendedpower profile used while charging the chargeable device.

In one aspect, the method includes conducting a low-power search of aplurality of charging coils to determine if an electrical, mechanical ormagnetic characteristic of at least one charging coil has been affectedby an object placed in proximity to the at least one charging coil, andconfiguring the charging circuit to include the at least one chargingcoil.

In one aspect, the method includes detecting that a change incapacitance associated with at least one charging coil is indicative ofan object placed in proximity to the at least one charging coil, andconfiguring the charging circuit to include the at least one chargingcoil.

In one aspect of the disclosure, a wireless charging apparatus has abattery charging power source coupled to a charging circuit, a pluralityof charging cells configured to provide a charging surface, and acontroller. The controller may be configured to provide a pulse to thecharging circuit, detect a frequency of oscillation of the chargingcircuit responsive to the pulse or a rate of decay of the oscillation ofthe charging circuit, and determine that a chargeable device has beenplaced in proximity to a coil of the charging circuit based on changesin a characteristic of the charging circuit. The pulse may have aduration that is less than half the period of a nominal resonantfrequency of the charging circuit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a charging cell that may be employed toprovide a charging surface in accordance with certain aspects disclosedherein.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of an arrangement of charging cellsprovided on a single layer of a segment of a charging surface that maybe adapted in accordance with certain aspects disclosed herein.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of an arrangement of charging cells whenmultiple layers are overlaid within a segment of a charging surface thatmay be adapted in accordance with certain aspects disclosed herein.

FIG. 4 illustrates the arrangement of power transfer areas provided by acharging surface that employs multiple layers of charging cellsconfigured in accordance with certain aspects disclosed herein.

FIG. 5 illustrates the use of differential capacitive sensing to detectlocation and/or orientation of a mobile communication device inaccordance with certain aspects disclosed herein.

FIG. 6 illustrates certain aspects of a search conducted when eachcharging cell includes multiple coils in accordance with certain aspectsdisclosed herein.

FIG. 7 illustrates a charging surface with multiple charging cells,including the three illustrated charging cells involved in a searchconducted in accordance with certain aspects disclosed herein.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a search process that may beconducted by a charging device in accordance with certain aspectsdisclosed herein.

FIG. 9 illustrates a wireless transmitter that may be provided in acharger base station in accordance with certain aspects disclosedherein.

FIG. 10 illustrates a first example of a response to a passive ping inaccordance with certain aspects disclosed herein.

FIG. 11 illustrates a second example of a response to a passive ping inaccordance with certain aspects disclosed herein.

FIG. 12 illustrates examples of observed differences in responses to apassive ping in accordance with certain aspects disclosed herein.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart that illustrates a method involving passive pingimplemented in a wireless charging device adapted in accordance withcertain aspects disclosed herein.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart that illustrates a power transfer managementprocedure that may be employed by a wireless charging device implementedin accordance with certain aspects disclosed herein.

FIG. 15 illustrates a first topology that supports matrix multiplexingswitching for use in a wireless charger adapted in accordance withcertain aspects disclosed herein.

FIG. 16 illustrates a second topology that supports direct current drivein a wireless charger adapted in accordance with certain aspectsdisclosed herein.

FIG. 17 illustrates an RC charging discharging cycle that characterizescertain charging devices adapted in accordance with certain aspectsdisclosed herein.

FIG. 18 illustrates a battery assembly in a receiving device that may becharged in accordance with certain aspects disclosed herein.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram illustrating the operation of a wirelesscharger in accordance with certain aspects disclosed herein.

FIG. 20 illustrates an example of a PCB manufactured in accordance withcertain aspects disclosed herein.

FIG. 21 illustrates an example of a charging device manufactured inaccordance with certain aspects disclosed herein.

FIG. 22 is flowchart illustrating an example of a method for detectingan object performed by a controller provided in a wireless chargingapparatus adapted in accordance with certain aspects disclosed herein.

FIG. 23 illustrates one example of an apparatus employing a processingcircuit that may be adapted according to certain aspects disclosedherein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appendeddrawings is intended as a description of various configurations and isnot intended to represent the only configurations in which the conceptsdescribed herein may be practiced. The detailed description includesspecific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understandingof various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that these concepts may be practiced without these specificdetails. In some instances, well known structures and components areshown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring such concepts.

Several aspects of wireless charging systems will now be presented withreference to various apparatus and methods. These apparatus and methodswill be described in the following detailed description and illustratedin the accompanying drawing by various blocks, modules, components,circuits, steps, processes, algorithms, etc. (collectively referred toas “elements”). These elements may be implemented using electronichardware, computer software, or any combination thereof. Whether suchelements are implemented as hardware or software depends upon theparticular application and design constraints imposed on the overallsystem.

By way of example, an element, or any portion of an element, or anycombination of elements may be implemented with a “processing system”that includes one or more processors. Examples of processors includemicroprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs),field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices(PLDs), state machines, gated logic, discrete hardware circuits, andother suitable hardware configured to perform the various functionalitydescribed throughout this disclosure. One or more processors in theprocessing system may execute software. Software shall be construedbroadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments,program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications,software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines,objects, executables, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc.,whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode,hardware description language, or otherwise. The software may reside ona processor-readable storage medium. A processor-readable storagemedium, which may also be referred to herein as a computer-readablemedium may include, by way of example, a magnetic storage device (e.g.,hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic strip), an optical disk (e.g., compactdisk (CD), digital versatile disk (DVD)), a smart card, a flash memorydevice (e.g., card, stick, key drive), Near Field Communications (NFC)token, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), programmableROM (PROM), erasable PROM (EPROM), electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM),a register, a removable disk, a carrier wave, a transmission line, andany other suitable medium for storing or transmitting software. Thecomputer-readable medium may be resident in the processing system,external to the processing system, or distributed across multipleentities including the processing system. Computer-readable medium maybe embodied in a computer-program product. By way of example, acomputer-program product may include a computer-readable medium inpackaging materials. Those skilled in the art will recognize how best toimplement the described functionality presented throughout thisdisclosure depending on the particular application and the overalldesign constraints imposed on the overall system.

Overview

Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to systems, apparatusand methods applicable to wireless charging devices and techniques.Charging cells may be configured with one or more inductive coils toprovide a charging surface that can charge one or more deviceswirelessly. The location of a device to be charged may be detectedthrough sensing techniques that associate location of a device tochanges in a physical characteristic centered at a known location on thecharging surface. Sensing of location may be implemented usingcapacitive, resistive, inductive, touch, pressure, load, strain, and/oranother appropriate type of sensing.

In one aspect of the disclosure, an apparatus has a battery chargingpower source, a plurality of charging cells configured in a matrix, afirst plurality of switches in which each switch is configured to couplea row of coils in the matrix to a first terminal of the battery chargingpower source, and a second plurality of switches in which each switch isconfigured to couple a column of coils in the matrix to a secondterminal of the battery charging power source. Each charging cell in theplurality of charging cells may include one or more coils surrounding apower transfer area. The plurality of charging cells may be arrangedadjacent to a charging surface without overlap of power transfer areasof the charging cells in the plurality of charging cells.

Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to systems, apparatusand methods for wireless charging using stacked coils that can chargetarget devices presented to a charging device without a requirement tomatch a particular geometry or location within a charging surface of thecharging device. Each coil may have a shape that is substantiallypolygonal. In one example, each coil may have a hexagonal shape. Eachcoil may be implemented using wires, printed circuit board traces and/orother connectors that are provided in a spiral. Each coil may span twoor more layers separated by an insulator or substrate such that coils indifferent layers are centered around a common axis.

According to certain aspects disclosed herein, power can be wirelesslytransferred to a receiving device located anywhere on a charging surfacethat can have an arbitrarily defined size and/or shape without regard toany discrete placement locations enabled for charging. Multiple devicescan be simultaneously charged on a single charging surface. The chargingsurface may be manufactured using printed circuit board technology, atlow cost and/or with a compact design.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to systems, apparatusand methods that enable fast, low-power detection of objects placed inproximity to a charging surface. In one example, an object may bedetected when a pulse provided to a charging circuit stimulates anoscillation in the charging circuit, or in some portion thereof. Afrequency of oscillation of the charging circuit responsive to the pulseor a rate of decay of the oscillation of the charging circuit may beindicative or determinative of presence of a chargeable device has beenplaced in proximity to a coil of the charging circuit. Identification ofa type or nature of the object may be made based on changes in acharacteristic of the charging circuit. The pulse provided to thecharging circuit may have a duration that is less than half the periodof a nominal resonant frequency of the charging circuit.

Charging Cells

According to certain aspects disclosed herein, a charging surface may beprovided using charging cells that are deployed adjacent to the chargingsurface. In one example the charging cells are deployed in accordancewith a honeycomb packaging configuration. A charging cell may beimplemented using one or more coils that can each induce a magneticfield along an axis that is substantially orthogonal to the chargingsurface adjacent to the coil. In this description, a charging cell mayrefer to an element having one or more coils where each coil isconfigured to produce an electromagnetic field that is additive withrespect to the fields produced by other coils in the charging cell, anddirected along or proximate to a common axis.

In some implementations, a charging cell includes coils that are stackedalong a common axis and/or that overlap such that they contribute to aninduced magnetic field substantially orthogonal to the charging surface.In some implementations, a charging cell includes coils that arearranged within a defined portion of the charging surface and thatcontribute to an induced magnetic field within the substantiallyorthogonal to portion of the charging surface associated with thecharging cell. In some implementations, charging cells may beconfigurable by providing an activating current to coils that areincluded in a dynamically-defined charging cell. For example, a chargingdevice may include multiple stacks of coils deployed across a chargingsurface, and the charging device may detect the location of a device tobe charged and may select some combination of stacks of coils to providea charging cell adjacent to the device to be charged. In some instances,a charging cell may include, or be characterized as a single coil.However, it should be appreciated that a charging cell may includemultiple stacked coils and/or multiple adjacent coils or stacks ofcoils.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a charging cell 100 that may bedeployed and/or configured to provide a charging surface. In thisexample, the charging cell 100 has a substantially hexagonal shape thatencloses one or more coils 102 constructed using conductors, wires orcircuit board traces that can receive a current sufficient to produce anelectromagnetic field in a power transfer area 104. In variousimplementations, some coils 102 may have a shape that is substantiallypolygonal, including the hexagonal charging cell 100 illustrated inFIG. 1. Other implementations may provide coils 102 that have othershapes. The shape of the coils 102 may be determined at least in part bythe capabilities or limitations of fabrication technology, and/or tooptimize layout of the charging cells on a substrate 106 such as aprinted circuit board substrate. Each coil 102 may be implemented usingwires, printed circuit board traces and/or other connectors in a spiralconfiguration. Each charging cell 100 may span two or more layersseparated by an insulator or substrate 106 such that coils 102 indifferent layers are centered around a common axis 108.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of an arrangement 200 of charging cells202 provided on a single layer of a segment of a charging surface thatmay be adapted in accordance with certain aspects disclosed herein. Thecharging cells 202 are arranged according to a honeycomb packagingconfiguration. In this example, the charging cells 202 are arrangedend-to-end without overlap. This arrangement can be provided withoutthrough-hole or wire interconnects. Other arrangements are possible,including arrangements in which some portion of the charging cells 202overlap. For example, wires of two or more coils may be interleaved tosome extent.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of an arrangement of charging cells fromtwo perspectives 300, 310 when multiple layers are overlaid within asegment of a charging surface that may be adapted in accordance withcertain aspects disclosed herein. Layers of charging cells 302, 304,306, 308 provided within a segment of a charging surface. The chargingcells within each layer of charging cells 302, 304, 306, 308 arearranged according to a honeycomb packaging configuration. In oneexample, the layers of charging cells 302, 304, 306, 308 may be formedon a printed circuit board that has four or more layers. The arrangementof charging cells 100 can be selected to provide complete coverage of adesignated charging area that is adjacent to the illustrated segment.

FIG. 4 illustrates the arrangement of power transfer areas provided in acharging surface 400 that employs multiple layers of charging cellsconfigured in accordance with certain aspects disclosed herein. Theillustrated charging surface is constructed from four layers of chargingcells 402, 404, 406, 408. In FIG. 4, each power transfer area providedby a charging cell in the first layer of charging cells 402 is marked“L1”, each power transfer area provided by a charging cell in the secondlayer of charging cells 404 is marked “L2”, each power transfer areaprovided by a charging cell in the third layer of charging cells 406,408 is marked “L3”, and each power transfer area provided by a chargingcell in the first layer of charging cells 408 is marked “L4”.

Locating Devices on a Charging Surface

In accordance with certain aspects disclosed herein, location sensingmay rely on changes in some property of the electrical conductors thatform coils in a charging cell. Measurable differences in properties ofthe electrical conductors may include capacitance, resistance,inductance and/or temperature. In some examples, loading of the chargingsurface can affect the measurable resistance of a coil located near thepoint of loading. In some implementations, sensors may be provided toenable location sensing through detection of changes in touch, pressure,load and/or strain.

Certain aspects disclosed herein provide apparatus and methods that cansense the location of low-power devices that may be freely placed on acharging surface using differential capacitive sense techniques. FIG. 5illustrates an example 500 of the use of differential capacitive senseto detect location and/or orientation of a mobile communication deviceor other object 512. One or more coils 504 are provided on a surface ofa printed circuit board 502, substrate or other type of carrier.Capacitive coupling (illustrated by the dashed lines 510) can beattributed to an effective capacitance 508 be measurable between pairsof the coils 504. Capacitance may be measured using a circuit coupled toeach of the coils 504. An object 512, such as a chargeable device canincrease or decrease the apparent capacitance 508 between the pairs ofthe coils 504. The object 512 may modify the capacitive coupling(illustrated by the dashed lines 520) between the pairs of the coils504. In one example, the object 512 may affect the dielectric propertiesof an overlay 506, provide an alternative capacitive circuit through theobject 512 and/or produce some other change in electrical characteristicthat increases or decreases the measured or apparent value of thecapacitance 508 between the pairs of the coils 504. The measureddifference caused by the object 512 may be referred to as differentialcapacitance.

A charging device can use differential capacitive sensing to locatedevices anywhere on charging surface that includes a coil array providedaccording to certain aspects disclosed herein. The charging device maythen determine one or more of the coils 504 that can be used to provideoptimal charging of the device, which may be referred to as a receivingdevice.

The use of differential capacitive sensing enables an extremelylow-power detection and location operation in comparison to conventionaldetection techniques. Conventional techniques used in current wirelesscharging applications for detecting devices employ “ping” methods thatdrive the transmitting coil and consume substantial power (e.g., 100-200mW). The field generated by the transmitting coil is used to detect areceiving device. Differential capacitive sensing does not requirepowering the transmitting coil to detect presence of a receiving deviceand requires no additional sensing elements. The coils used in the coilarray can serve as the capacitive sense elements used to find areceiving device and/or to identify physical location of the receivingdevice.

Differential capacitive sensing operates by measuring the differentialcapacitance between two adjacent coils. Differences and/or changes incapacitance can identify presence of the receiving device, without theneed for a ground plane or additional conductive sense elements.Differential capacitive sensing provides a high-speed methodology thatenables rapid detection of receiving devices by eliminating the need towait for a response transmitted by a receiving device in response to aping. Differential capacitive sensing can also sense receiving devicesthat have insufficient stored power to respond to a ping or query fromthe charging device.

According to certain aspects, presence, position and/or orientation of areceiving device may be determined using differential capacitive sensingor another location sensing technique that involves, for example,detecting differences or changes in capacitance, resistance, inductance,touch, pressure, temperature, load, strain, and/or another appropriatetype of sensing. Location sensing may be employed to determine anapproximate location of the device to be charged and enable a chargingdevice to determine if a compatible device has been placed on thecharging surface. For example, the charging device may determine that acompatible device has been placed on the charging surface by sending anintermittent test signal (ping) that causes a compatible device torespond. The charging device may be configured to activate one or morecoils in at least one charging cell after determining receiving aresponse signal defined by standard, convention, manufacturer orapplication. In some examples, the compatible device can respond to aping by communicating received signal strength such that the chargingdevice can find an optimal charging cell to be used for charging thecompatible device.

In one example, a controller, state machine or other processing devicemay be configured to measure a capacitance attributable to one or morecoils in a charging cell, and to determine whether the measuredcapacitance indicates proximity of a receiving device or correspondingcoil in a receiving device. In some instances, the capacitance may bemeasured as a difference in capacitance in a sensing circuit. Thecontroller, state machine or other processing device may maintaininformation that identifies expected capacitance associated with eachcharging cell when no receiving device is present. Differences inmeasured capacitance may then be used to determine that a receivingdevice is located near the charging cell. The size of the difference maybe indicative of the distance between charging cell and the receivingdevice.

In some implementations, the controller, state machine or otherprocessing device may maintain one or more profiles of the chargingsurface. The profiles may relate individual or groups of charging cellsto expected capacitance measurements, last measured capacitances and/orhistorical likelihoods of capacitance values when a receiving device ispresent.

According to certain aspects, presence, position and/or orientation of areceiving device may be determined by searching the charging cells fordifferences in capacitance using a search pattern. The search patternmay be pseudo-random to improve average time to detect a chargingdevice. In some implementations, the starting point of the search may beselected based on a history of measurements captured when a receivingdevice was in proximity and receiving charge. In some implementations,an initial group of charging cells may be prioritized for searchingbased on a history of measurements captured when a receiving device wasin proximity and receiving charge.

FIG. 6 illustrates certain aspects of a search conducted in a groupingof coils that includes multiple coils 602, 604, 606, 608, 622, 624, 626,628. In some implementations, a search may be conducted by measuringdifferences in measurable properties of different groupings of coils600, 620. In the illustrated example, a combined property of a firstgrouping of coils 600 that includes coils 602, 604, 606, 608 may beassessed independently of the combined property of a second grouping ofcoils 620 that includes coils 622, 624, 626, 628. The groupings of coils600, 620 may be selected to increase the quantity to be measured throughaggregation, or to cover a wider area during a single measurement. Inone example, the capacitance associated with a stack of coils may bemeasured as an aggregate. In another example, the capacitance of coilsat different locations in a charging surface may be measured to enablerapid detection of a device to be charged that is placed on the chargingsurface serviced by the measured coils.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate certain aspects of a search conducted usingdifferential capacitive sensing. FIG. 7 illustrates a two-dimensionalview (X axis 702 and Y axis 704) of a charging surface 700, which isprovided with one or more charging cells that include the threeillustrated charging coils 706, 708, 710. Certain aspects illustrated byFIG. 7 are also applicable to searches involving individual coils withina charging coils 706, 708, 710 or spread throughout a charging surface700 and/or in a three-dimensional space. In the illustrated example, thecharging coils 706, 708, 710 are the first three charging coils testedduring a search, which may be conducted as a pseudorandom search. Thesearch commences at a first charging coil 706. The search pattern maycause testing to move 712 to a second charging coil 708, and may thencause testing to move 714 to a third charging coil 710. The search maybe conducted to identify the general location of a receiving device andmay be stopped when a measurement indicating presence of a receivingdevice is obtained. A second, area-specific search may then be conductedaround the charging coil 706, 708, 710.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart 800 illustrating a search process that may beconducted by a charging device to determine if, or where, a device to becharged has been placed on a charging surface. The flowchart 800 mayrelate to individual coils provided within a charging device, to groupsof coils stacked in proximity along a common axis, and/or groups ofcoils provided in a single charging coil 706, 708, 710 or servicing anarea of interest of the charging surface (see also FIG. 6).

At block 802, an initial coil or group of coils is selected as astarting for the search. The starting point may be selected using apseudorandom number generator, or the like. In some instances, thestarting point may be selected from a group of potential starting pointsthat may be known or expected to be near locations that have a higherprobability that a device to be charged to be present. For example, acharging device may maintain a history of searches and/or chargingevents that identify the location of a device that was charged and/orthe charging coils or charging cells that are most frequently activatedto charge devices.

At block 804, the charging device may obtain measurements of capacitanceof conductors in one or more coils, or some other property associatedwith the coils or charging surface that may be altered in the presenceof a device to be charged. The charging device may determine if thevalue measured property has changed from a previously measured value ofthe property, a nominal value, and/or values measured at a differentsite on the charging surface.

If a change is detected at block 804, the charging device may update aprofile of the charging surface at block 808. For example, the profilemay be modified to reflect the new value and/or the size of the changein the value. The profile may be used to map the potential location of adevice to be charged and/or to remap or unmap devices that have beenmoved or removed from the charging surface. In some instances, thedetection of a change or difference in the measured property may causethe charging device to initiate a ping using a charging coil thatexhibited a change or triggering property value. If no change wasdetected at block 806, or no charging process initiated at block 808,the search may continue at block 810.

At block 810, the charging device may select a next coil to be measured.The selection may be made based on a pseudorandom sequence, using apseudorandom number generator to select a next coil. If at block 812 itis determined that all coils to be tested have been tested, the searchmay be terminated. If additional coils remain to be tested, the searchmay continue at block 804.

When a search identifies a potential device placement on the chargingsurface, the charging device may begin a ping procedure to identify acharging cell, a combination of charging cells and/or a combination ofcoils that are to be activated to charge the device placed on thecharging surface. The ping procedure verifies that the device to becharged is compatible with the charging device, and may identify asignal strength indicating whether the coils used to transmit the pingare best positioned for the requested or desired charging procedure.

Significant power savings can be achieved when a search is conducted tolocate a device placed on or near in a multi-coil, free positioncharging pad before using pings to establish that the device isconfigured to receive charge from a wireless charging device. Thesavings in power consumption can be obtained by refraining fromproviding pings until a device is detected in a search, and by limitingping transmissions to transmitting coils that are placed in proximity tothe detected device and likely to be capable of establishing anelectromagnetic charging connection with the detected device.

Passive Ping

Wireless charging devices may be adapted in accordance with certainaspects disclosed herein to support a low-power discovery technique thatcan replace and/or supplement conventional ping transmissions. Aconventional ping is produced by driving a resonant LC circuit thatincludes a transmitting coil of a base station. The base station thenwaits for an ASK-modulated response from the receiving device. Alow-power discovery technique may include utilizing a passive ping toprovide fast and/or low-power discovery. According to certain aspects, apassive ping may be produced by driving a network that includes theresonant LC circuit with a fast pulse that includes a small amount ofenergy. The fast pulse excites the resonant LC circuit and causes thenetwork to oscillate at its natural resonant frequency until theinjected energy decays and is dissipated. In one example, the fast pulsemay have a duration corresponding to a half cycle of the resonantfrequency of the network and/or the resonant LC circuit. When the basestation is configured for wireless transmission of power within thefrequency range 100 kHz to 200 kHz, the fast pulse may have a durationthat is less than 2.5 μs.

The passive ping may be characterized and/or configured based on thenatural frequency at which the network including the resonant LC circuitrings, and the rate of decay of energy in the network. The ringingfrequency of the network and/or resonant LC circuit may be defined as:

$\begin{matrix}{\omega = \frac{1}{\sqrt{LC}}} & \left( {{Eq}.\mspace{14mu} 1} \right)\end{matrix}$

The rate of decay is controlled by the quality factor (Q factor) of theoscillator network, as defined by:

$\begin{matrix}{Q = {\frac{1}{R}\sqrt{\frac{L}{C}}}} & \left( {{Eq}.\mspace{14mu} 2} \right)\end{matrix}$

Equations 1 and 2 show that resonant frequency is affected by L and C,while the Q factor is affected by L, C and R. In a base station providedin accordance with certain aspects disclosed herein, the wireless driverhas a fixed value of C determined by the selection of the resonantcapacitor. The values of L and R are determined by the wirelesstransmitting coil and by an object or device placed adjacent to thewireless transmitting coil.

The wireless transmitting coil is configured to be magnetically coupledwith a receiving coil in a device placed within close proximity of thetransmitting coil, and to couple some of its energy into the proximatedevice to be charged. The L and R values of the transmitter circuit canbe affected by the characteristics of the device to be charged, and/orother objects within close proximity of the transmitting coil. As anexample, if a piece of ferrous material with a high magneticpermeability placed near the transmitter coils can increase the totalinductance (L) of the transmitter coil, resulting in a lower resonantfrequency, as shown by Equation 1. Some energy may be lost throughheating of materials due to eddy current induction, and these losses maybe characterized as an increase the value of R thereby lowering the Qfactor, as shown by Equation 2.

A wireless receiver placed in close proximity to the transmitter coilcan also affect the Q factor and resonant frequency. The receiver mayinclude a tuned LC network with a high Q which can result in thetransmitter coil having a lower Q factor. The resonant frequency of thetransmitter coil may be reduced due to the addition of the magneticmaterial in the receiver, which is now part of the total magneticsystem. Table 1 illustrates certain effects attributable to differenttypes of objects placed within close proximity to the transmitter coil.

TABLE 1 Object L R Q Frequency None present Base Value Base value BaseValue (High) Base Value Ferrous Small Increase Large Increase LargeDecrease Small Decrease Non-ferrous Small Decrease Large Increase LargeDecrease Small Increase Wireless Receiver Large Increase Small DecreaseSmall Decrease Large Decrease

FIG. 9 illustrates a wireless transmitter 900 that may be provided in acharger base station. A controller 902 may receive a feedback signalfiltered or otherwise processed by a filter circuit 908. The controllermay control the operation of a driver circuit 904 that provides analternating current to a resonant circuit 906 that includes a capacitor912 and inductor 914. The voltage 916 measured at an LC node 910 of theresonant circuit 906.

Passive ping techniques may use the voltage and/or current measured orobserved at the LC node 910 to identify the presence of a receiving coilin proximity to the charging pad of a device adapted in accordance withcertain aspects disclosed herein. In many conventional wireless chargertransmitters, circuits are provided to measure voltage at the LC node910 or the current in the network. These voltages and currents may bemonitored for power regulation purposes and/or to support communicationbetween devices. In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, voltage at the LCnode 910, although it is contemplated that current may additionally oralternatively be monitored to support passive ping. A response of theresonant circuit 906 to a passive ping (initial voltage V₀) may berepresented by the voltage (V_(LC)) at the LC node 910, such that:

$\begin{matrix}{V_{LC} = {V_{0}e^{{- {(\frac{\omega}{2Q})}}t}}} & \left( {{Eq}.\mspace{14mu} 3} \right)\end{matrix}$

FIG. 10 illustrates a first example in which a response 1000 to apassive ping decays according to Equation 3. After the excitation pulseat time=0, the voltage and/or current is seen to oscillate at theresonant frequency defined by Equation 1, and with a decay rate definedby Equation 3. The first cycle of oscillation begins at voltage level V₀and V_(LC) continues to decay to zero as controlled by the Q factor andω. The example illustrated in FIG. 10 represents a typical open orunloaded response when no object is present or proximate to the chargingpad. In FIG. 10 the value of the Q factor is assumed to be 20.

FIG. 11 illustrates a second example in which a response 1100 to apassive ping decays according to Equation 3. After the excitation pulseat time=0, the voltage and/or current is seen to oscillate at theresonant frequency defined by Equation 1, and with a decay rate definedby Equation 3. The first cycle of oscillation begins at voltage level V₀and V_(LC) continues to decay to zero as controlled by the Q factor andω. The example illustrated in FIG. 11 represents a loaded response whenan object is present or proximate to the charging pad loads the coil. InFIG. 10 the Q factor may have a value of 7. V_(LC) oscillates at ahigher in the voltage response 1100 with respect to the voltage response1000.

FIG. 12 illustrates a set of examples in which differences in responses1200, 1220, 1240 may be observed. A passive ping is initiated when adriver circuit 904 excites the resonant circuit 906 using a pulse thatis shorter than 2.5 μs. Different types of wireless receivers andforeign objects placed on the transmitter result in different responsesobservable in the voltage at the LC node 910 or current in the resonantcircuit 906 of the transmitter. The differences may indicate variationsin the Q factor of the resonant circuit 906 frequency of the oscillationof V₀. Table 2 illustrates certain examples of objects placed on thecharging pad in relation to an open state.

TABLE 2 Object Frequency V_(peak) (mV) 50% Decay Cycles Q Factor Nonepresent 96.98 kHz 134 mV 4.5 20.385 Type-1 Receiver 64.39 kHz 82 mV 3.515.855 Type-2 Receiver 78.14 kHz 78 mV 3.5 15.855 Type-3 Receiver 76.38kHz 122 mV 3.2 14.496 Misaligned Type-3 Receiver 210.40 kHz 110 mV 2.09.060 Ferrous object 93.80 kHz 110 mV 2.0 9.060 Non-ferrous object100.30 kHz 102 mV 1.5 6.795

In Table 2, the Q factor may be calculated as follows:

$\begin{matrix}{{Q = {\frac{\pi \; N}{\ln (2)} \cong {4.53N}}},} & \left( {{Eq}.\mspace{14mu} 3} \right)\end{matrix}$

-   -   where N is the number of cycles from excitation until amplitude        falls below 0.5 V₀.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart 1300 that illustrates a method involving passiveping implemented in a wireless charging device adapted in accordancewith certain aspects disclosed herein. At block 1302, a controller maygenerate a short excitation pulse and may provide the short excitationpulse to a network that includes a resonant circuit. The network mayhave a nominal resonant frequency and the short excitation pulse mayhave a duration that is less than half the nominal resonant frequency ofthe network. The nominal resonant frequency may be observed when thetransmitting coil of the resonant circuit is isolated from externalobjects, including ferrous objects, non-ferrous objects and/or receivingcoils in a device to be charged.

At block 1304, the controller may determine the resonant frequency ofthe network or may monitor the decay of resonation of the networkresponsive to the pulse. According to certain aspects disclosed herein,the resonant frequency and/or the Q factor associated with the networkmay be altered when a device or other object is placed in proximity tothe transmitting coil. The resonant frequency may be increased ordecreased from the nominal resonant frequency observed when thetransmitting coil of the resonant circuit is isolated from externalobjects. The Q factor of the network may be increased or decreased withrespect to a nominal Q factor measurable when the transmitting coil ofthe resonant circuit is isolated from external objects. According tocertain aspects disclosed herein, the duration of delay can beindicative of the presence or type of an object placed in proximity tothe transmitting coil when differences in Q factor prolong or acceleratedecay of amplitude of oscillation in the resonant circuit with respectto delays associated with a nominal Q factor.

In one example, the controller may determine the resonant frequency ofthe network using a transition detector circuit configured to detectzero crossings of a signal representative of the voltage at the LC node910 using a comparator or the like. In some instances, direct current(DC) components may be filtered from the signal to provide a zerocrossing. In some instances, the comparator may account for a DCcomponent using an offset to detect crossings of a common voltage level.A counter may be employed to count the detected zero crossings. Inanother example the controller may determine the resonant frequency ofthe network using a transition detector circuit configured to detectcrossings through a threshold voltage by a signal representative of thevoltage at the LC node 910, where the amplitude of the signal is clampedor limited within a range of voltages that can be detected and monitoredby logic circuits. In this example, a counter may be employed to counttransitions in the signal. The resonant frequency of the network may bemeasured, estimated and/or calculated using other methodologies.

In another example, a timer or counter may be employed to determine thetime elapsed for V_(LC) to decay from voltage level V₀ to a thresholdvoltage level. The elapsed time may be used to represent a decaycharacteristic of the network. The threshold voltage level may beselected to provide sufficient granularity to enable a counter or timerto distinguish between various responses 1200, 1220, 1240 to the pulse.V_(LC) may be represented by detected or measured peak, peak-to-peak,envelope and/or rectified voltage level. The decay characteristic of thenetwork may be measured, estimated and/or calculated using othermethodologies.

If at block 1306, the controller determines that a change in resonantfrequency with respect to a nominal resonant frequency indicate presenceof an object in proximity to the transmitting coil, the controller mayattempt to identify the object at block 1312. If the controllerdetermines at block 1306 that resonant frequency is substantially thesame as the nominal resonant frequency, the controller may consider thedecay characteristic of the amplitude of oscillation in the resonantcircuit at block 1308. The controller may determine that the resonantfrequency of the network is substantially the same as the nominalresonant frequency when the frequency remains within a defined frequencyrange centered on, or including the nominal resonant frequency. In someimplementations, the controller may identify objects using changes inresonant frequency and decay characteristics. In these latterimplementations, the controller may continue at block 1308 regardless ofresonant frequency, and may use changes in change in resonant frequencyas an additional parameter when identifying an object positionedproximately the transmission coil.

At block 1308, the controller may use a timer and/or may count thecycles of the oscillation in the resonant circuit that have elapsedbetween the initial V_(O) amplitude and a threshold amplitude used toassess the decay characteristic. In one example, V_(O)/2 may be selectedas the threshold amplitude. At block 1310, the number of cycles or theelapsed time between the initial V_(O) amplitude and the thresholdamplitude may be used to characterize decay in the amplitude ofoscillation in the resonant circuit, and to compare the characterizedecay with a corresponding nominal decay characteristic. If at block1310, no change in frequency and delay characteristic is detected, thecontroller may terminate the procedure with a determination that noobject is proximately located to the transmission coil. If at block1310, a change in frequency and/or delay characteristic has beendetected, the controller may identify the object at block 1312.

At block 1312, the controller may be configured to identify receivingdevices placed on a charging pad. The controller may be configured toignore other types of objects, or receiving devices that are notoptimally placed on the charging pad including, for example, receivingdevices that are misaligned with the transmission coil that provides thepassive ping. In some implementations, the controller may use a lookuptable indexed by resonant frequency, decay time, change in resonantfrequency, change in decay time and/or Q factor estimates. The lookuptable may provide information identifying specific device types, and/orcharging parameters to be used when charging the identified device ortype of device.

Passive ping uses a very short excitation pulse that can be less than ahalf-cycle of the nominal resonant frequency observed at the LC node 910in the resonant circuit 906. A conventional ping may actively drive atransmission coil for more than 16,000 cycles. The power and timeconsumed by a conventional ping can exceed the power and time use of apassive ping by several orders of magnitude. In one example, a passiveping consumes approximately 0.25 μJ per ping with a max ping time ofaround ˜100 μs, while a conventional active ping consumes approximately80 mJ per ping with a max ping time of around 90 ms. In this example,energy dissipation may be reduced by a factor of 320,000 and the timeper ping may be reduced by a factor of 900.

Passive ping may also be coupled with another, reduced-power sensingmethodology, such as capacitive sensing. Capacitive sensing or the likecan provide an ultra-low power detection method that determines presenceor non-presence of an object is in proximity to the charging surface.After capacitive sense detection, a passive ping can be transmittedsequentially or concurrently on each coil to produce a more accurate mapof where a potential receiving device and/or object is located. After apassive ping procedure has been conducted, an active ping may beprovided in the most likely device locations. An example algorithm fordevice location sensing, identification and charging is illustrated inFIG. 14.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart 1400 that illustrates a power transfer managementprocedure involving multiple sensing and/or interrogation techniquesthat may be employed by a wireless charging device implemented inaccordance with certain aspects disclosed herein. The procedure may beinitiated periodically and, in some instances, may be initiated afterthe wireless charging device exits a low-power or sleep state. In oneexample, the procedure may be repeated at a frequency calculated toprovide sub-second response to placement of a device on a charging pad.The procedure may be re-entered when an error condition has beendetected during a first execution of the procedure, and/or aftercharging of a device placed on the charging pad has been completed.

At block 1402, a controller may perform an initial search usingcapacitive proximity sensing. Capacitive proximity sensing may beperformed quickly and with low power dissipation. In one example,capacitive proximity sensing may be performed iteratively, where one ormore transmission coils is tested in each iteration. The number oftransmission coils tested in each iteration may be determined by thenumber of sensing circuits available to the controller. At block 1404,the controller may determine whether capacitive proximity sensing hasdetected the presence or potential presence of an object proximate toone of the transmission coils. If no object is detected by capacitiveproximity sensing, the controller may cause the charging device to entera low-power, idle and/or sleep state at block 1424. If an object hasbeen detected, the controller may initiate passive ping sensing at block1406.

At block 1406, the controller may initiate passive ping sensing toconfirm presence of an object near one or more transmission coils,and/or to evaluate the nature of the proximately-located object. Passiveping sensing may consume a similar quantity of power but span a greaterof time than capacitive proximity sensing. In one example, each passiveping can be completed in approximately 100 μs and may expend 0.25 μJ. Apassive ping may be provided to each transmission coil identified asbeing of-interest by capacitive proximity sensing. In someimplementations, a passive ping may be provided to transmission coilsnear each transmission coil identified as being of-interest bycapacitive proximity sensing, including overlaid transmission coils. Atblock 1408, the controller may determine whether passive ping sensinghas detected the presence of a potentially chargeable device proximateto one of the transmission coils that may be a receiving device. If apotentially chargeable device has been detected, the controller mayinitiate active digital ping sensing at block 1410. If no potentialchargeable device has been detected, passive ping sensing may continueat block 1406 until all of the coils have been tested and/or thecontroller terminates passive ping sensing. In one example, thecontroller terminates passive ping sensing after all transmitting coilshave been tested. When passive ping sensing fails to find a potentiallychargeable device, the controller the controller may cause the chargingdevice to enter a low-power, idle and/or sleep state. In someimplementations, passive ping sensing may be paused when a potentiallychargeable device is detected so that an active ping can be used tointerrogate the potentially chargeable device. Passive ping sensing maybe resumed after the results of an active ping have been obtained.

At block 1410, the controller may use an active ping to interrogate apotentially chargeable device. The active ping may be provided to atransmitting coil identified by passive ping sensing. In one example, astandards-defined active ping exchange can be completed in approximately90 ms and may expend 80 mJ. An active ping may be provided to eachtransmission coil associated with a potentially chargeable device.

At block 1412, the controller may identify and configure a chargeabledevice. The active ping provided at block 1410 may be configured tostimulate a chargeable device such that it transmits a response thatincludes information identifying the chargeable device. In someinstances, the controller may fail to identify or configure apotentially chargeable device detected by passive ping, and thecontroller may resume a search based on passive ping at block 1406. Atblock 1414, the controller may determine whether a baseline chargingprofile or negotiated charging profile should be used to charge anidentified chargeable device. The baseline, or default charging profilemay be defined by standards. In one example, the baseline profile limitscharging power to 5 W. In another example, a negotiated charging profilemay enable charging to proceed at up to 15 W. When a baseline chargingprofile is selected, the controller may begin transferring power(charging) at block 1420.

At block 1416, the controller may initiate a standards-definednegotiation and calibration process that can optimize power transfer.The controller may negotiate with the chargeable device to determine anextended power profile that is different from a power profile definedfor the baseline charging profile. The controller may determine at block1418 that the negotiation and calibration process has failed and mayterminate the power transfer management procedure. When the controllerdetermines at block 1418 that the negotiation and calibration processhas succeeded, charging in accordance with the negotiate profile maycommence at block 1420.

At block 1422, the controller may determine whether charging has beensuccessfully completed. In some instances, an error may be detected whena negotiated profile is used to control power transfer. In the latterinstance, the controller may attempt to renegotiate and/or reconfigurethe profile at block 1416. The controller may terminate the powertransfer management procedure when charging has been successfullycompleted.

Selectively Activating Coils

According to certain aspects disclosed herein, coils in one or morecharging cells may be selectively activated to provide an optimalelectromagnetic field for charging a compatible device. In someinstances, coils may be assigned to charging cells, and some chargingcells may overlap other charging cells. In the latter instances, theoptimal charging configuration may be selected at the charging celllevel. In other instances, charging cells may be defined based onplacement of a device to be charged on a charging surface. In theseother instances, the combination of coils activated for each chargingevent can vary. In some implementations, a charging device may include adriver circuit that can select one or more cells and/or one or morepredefined charging cells for activation during a charging event.

FIG. 15 illustrates a first topology 1500 that supports matrixmultiplexing switching for use in a wireless charger adapted inaccordance with certain aspects disclosed herein. The wireless chargermay select one or more charging cells 100 to charge a receiving device.Charging cells 100 that are not in use can be disconnected from currentflow. A relatively large number of charging cells 100 may be used in thehoneycomb packaging configuration illustrated in FIG. 2 requiring acorresponding number of switches. According to certain aspects disclosedherein, the charging cells 100 may be logically arranged in a matrix1508 having multiple cells connected to two or more switches that enablespecific cells to be powered. In the illustrated topology 1500, atwo-dimensional matrix 1508 is provided, where the dimensions may berepresented by X and Y coordinates. Each of a first set of switches 1506is configured to selectively couple a first terminal of each cell in acolumn of cells to a wireless transmitter and/or receiver circuit 1502that provide current to activate coils during wireless charging. Each ofa second set of switches 1504 is configured to selectively couple asecond terminal of each cell in a row of cells to the wirelesstransmitter and/or receiver circuit 1502. A cell is active when bothterminals of the cell are coupled to the wireless transmitter and/orreceiver circuit 1502.

The use of a matrix 1508 can significantly reduce the number ofswitching components needed to operate a network of tuned LC circuits.For example, N individually connected cells require at least N switches,whereas a two-dimensional matrix 1508 having N cells can be operatedwith √N switches. The use of a matrix 1508 can produce significant costsavings and reduce circuit and/or layout complexity. In one example, a9-cell implementation can be implemented in a 3×3 matrix 1508 using 6switches, saving 3 switches. In another example, a 16-cellimplementation can be implemented in a 4×4 matrix 1508 using 8 switches,saving 8 switches.

During operation at least 2 switches are closed to actively couple onecoil to a wireless transmitter and/or receiver circuit 1502. Multipleswitches can be closed at once in order to facilitate connection ofmultiple coils to the wireless transmitter and/or receiver circuit 1502.Multiple switches may be closed, for example, to enable modes ofoperation that drive multiple transmitting coils when transferring powerto a receiving device.

FIG. 16 illustrates a second topology 1600 in which each coil orcharging cell is individually and/or directly driven by a driver circuit1602 in accordance with certain aspects disclosed herein. The drivercircuit 1602 may be configured to select one or more coils or chargingcells 100 from a group of coils 1604 to charge a receiving device. Itwill be appreciated that the concepts disclosed here in relation tocharging cells 100 may be applied to selective activation of individualcoils or stacks of coils. Charging cells 100 that are not in use receiveno current flow. A relatively large number of charging cells 100 may bein use and a switching matrix may be employed to drive individual coilsor groups of coils. In one example, a first switching matrix mayconfigure connections that define a charging cell or group of coils tobe used during a charging event and a second switching matrix (see,e.g., FIG. 15) may be used to activate the charging cell and/or group ofselected coils.

The availability of direct drive to one or more coils may permit thecharging device to concurrent transmit a ping through differentgroupings of coils 600, 620 (see FIG. 6).

In some implementations, capacitive sense can be used to determinelocation by first connecting two adjacent coils to the capacitive sensecircuitry. Using these two coils the circuitry measures the capacitanceby using one or more known methods. A first method includes applying aconstant current waveform and calculating capacitance based on changesin voltage sensed by a measuring circuit. Calculation can be based onthe following equations:

Q=C*V

Q=I*t

If a known charge is delivered (Q) by sourcing a known constant current(I) for a specified amount of time (t), the voltage (V) can be measuredfrom which the capacitance (C) can be calculated. Measured capacitancecan be compared to the last recorded measured value. Certain changes incapacitance are significant enough to indicate that the system haschanged, enabling detection that something has become part of the system(e.g., a phone).

Changes in capacitance can be measured through the use of an RC timeconstant. A constantly varying square wave signal can be applied acrossa known resistance (R) and the unknown capacitance (C or Cx). The timeto charge/discharge can them be measured using a timer and comparator.By using the time constant equation, capacitance can be calculated. FIG.17 illustrates an RC charging discharging cycle 1700. In accordance withcertain aspects disclosed herein, the charging coils in a wirelesscharger can be used as the differential sense elements.

Capacitance measurements may be taken from coils in a defined sequenceuntil all locations have been tested. Changes and/or magnitude ofchanges measured from the coils can identify location of a device to becharged. The process can be repeated cyclically that may repeat based ona configured interval time. The scan rate may be selected based on acompromise between speed of detection and power draw. If lower powerdraw levels are desired scan rate can be decreased at the expense oflower detection speed or vice versa.

After sensing a device location, the location of one or more devices canbe determined. Locations may be indicated by the combination of coilsthat register a large enough change in capacitance. Coils can be turnedon in a first-come, first-serve basis. As devices are added, associatedcoils proximate to the device can be connected to a driver andactivated. The number of devices that can be charged may be limited bythe number drivers available to service devices.

Current flow through each of the coils is defined roughly by anappropriate wireless charging standard (e.g., the Qi standard),frequency, amplitude, etc. Certain aspects disclosed herein relate toidentifying coils in an array that should be activated using arrayswitches and corresponding circuitry and/or algorithms.

According to certain aspects of this disclosure, the area that can beutilized for charging increases with the total surface area of thedisclosed charging device. In conventional wireless chargers, a singleQi coil transmitter has an effective power transfer area that is <9.2%(based on the A6 coil, the most commonly used coil). A layout of coilsprovided in accordance with certain aspects disclosed herein canaccomplish much higher ratios for charge area vs total area. In oneexample, a 100 mm×200 mm, 3-device configuration has an availablecharging area that is 57.2% of the charging device surface area. Inanother example, a 200 mm×200 mm, 6-device configuration has anavailable charging area that is 63.5% of the charging device surfacearea.

Batteries in Receiving Devices

FIG. 18 illustrates a battery assembly 1800 in a receiving device.Batteries that have a standard form factor can be adapted for embeddingin a device that uses Qi receiving technology adapted according tocertain aspects disclosed herein. In some instances, a battery 1802 maybe adapted for wireless charging through the addition of receiver. Thereceiver may be built-in to the battery 1802, provided on a flexibleprinted circuit board 1804 that wraps around the battery 1802, and/orprovided within a battery holder. In various examples, a battery 1802that has a conventional form factor such as AAA, AA, 9V, C, D, or otherform factor may be adapted to support wireless charging in accordancewith certain aspects disclosed herein. In other examples, batteries witha non-standard or proprietary physical form may be adapted to supportwireless charging in accordance with certain aspects disclosed herein.

In some instances, a battery 1802 need not be removed from the hostdevice in order to facilitate wireless charging, and a host device withspecial receiver may be operated to charge batteries in any orientationorthogonal to the largest dimensional axis.

The flexible printed circuit board 1804 may have a plurality of coils1808 configured to present a power transfer area along at least two axeswhen the flexible printed circuit board 1804 is mounted on a battery1802. The flexible printed circuit board 1804 may have a powermanagement circuit 1806 electrically coupled to terminals of the battery1802. The power management circuit 1806 may be adapted to determinecharge level of the battery 1802, receive power transferred wirelesslyfrom a wireless charging source, and provide a charging current to theterminals of the battery 1802 when the charge level of the battery 1802is below a maximum threshold charge level and the wireless chargingsource is transferring power through one or more of the plurality ofcoils 1808.

In some examples, the axes include a pair of orthogonal axes on thesurface of the battery 1802. The flexible printed circuit board 1804 mayenvelop, surround or enclose at least a portion of the battery 1802. Theflexible printed circuit board 1804 may be conformed to at least aportion of the surface of the battery 1802.

In various implementations, the flexible printed circuit board 1804 hasa sheet material configured to provide electromagnetic shielding. Thesheet material may be positioned between the plurality of coils 1808 andthe battery 1802 when the flexible printed circuit board 1804 is wrappedaround the battery 1802.

In one example, the plurality of coils 1808 is formed using at leastfour metal layers of the flexible printed circuit board 1804.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram 1900 illustrating the operation of areceiving device that may be electromagnetically coupled to a wirelesscharger in accordance with certain aspects disclosed herein. Thereceiving device may include receiver coils 1908, 1910, 1912, 1914 thatrespond to the electromagnetic field produced by the wireless chargerand that each contribute to a current provided to a rectifier 1906. Therectifier 1906 provides a rectified current to a power transfercontroller 1904. The power transfer controller 1904 may be configured toprovide a charging voltage to a battery management circuit 1902 thatmanages power transfer to a rechargeable battery cell 1920, typicallythrough battery terminals 1916. In one example, the power transfercontroller 1904 may include a charge pump or other power conditioningcircuits.

Efficient Printed Circuit Board Manufacture for Wireless ChargingSurfaces

Certain charging coils disclosed herein are manufactured using printedcircuit boards that have 4 or more layers. In conventional systems,printed circuit board designs employing more than 2 layers, it can beadvantageous to have an interconnect that passes through some layers butnot all layers of the board. Blind vias penetrate a surface on only oneside of the PCB, while buried vias connect internal layers withoutpenetrating either surface of the PCB. The use of blind and buried viascan allow higher density packing of circuits onto a PCB. However, theuse of blind and buried vias requires additional process steps in PCBproduction, that can increase cost and time of manufacturingsubstantially.

According to certain aspects disclosed herein, blind and buried vias canbe implemented using standard low-cost PCB manufacturing techniquesusing through holes/vias without increased time and/or cost associatedwith PCB manufacture and assembly. In some instances, multiplestandard-technology, low-cost PCBs may be joined to form a laminateusing an adhesive or other mechanical means to bond boards together toform a single larger multilayer board. Interconnections can be made bypressing in pins or soldering a bus connection between the boards.

FIG. 20 illustrates an example of a circuit 2000 (profile view asindicated at 2020) manufactured in accordance with certain aspectsdisclosed herein. In some examples, multiple copies of the same PCB2002, 2004 may be laminated to obtain a final product. In someinstances, one or more PCBs 2002, 2004 can be mirrored, and layered asmirrored versions to form a single assembly with one or more PCBs 2002,2004 that have not been mirrored. In the circuit 2000, two 2-layer PCBs2002, 2004 of the same design are glued or otherwise joined together. Inother examples, more than two PCBs 2002, 2004 may be layered to form thecircuit 2000. The PCBs 2002, 2004 may have different layers, designs,thicknesses, etc.

In some examples, magnetic or shielding material may be provided withinor with the adhesive layer 2006 provided between PCBs 2002, 2004 tofacilitate on-board inductor operation, to shield circuits from EMIand/or for other purposes. Magnetic or shielding material cannot easilybe inserted between PCBs 2002, 2004 that form layers of the circuit2000, where the PCBs 2002, 2004 are obtained using conventionalmanufacturing techniques.

According to certain aspects disclosed herein, a charging surfaceincludes a first PCB 2002 having a top layer 2010 and a bottom layer2012. The top layer 2010 and the bottom layer 2012 may be metal, and/orinsulated metal. The charging surface includes a second PCB 2004 havinga top layer 2014 and a bottom layer 2016. The top layer 2014 and thebottom layer 2016 may be metal, and/or insulated metal. The chargingsurface includes an adhesive layer 2006 joining the first printedcircuit board 2002 and the second printed circuit board 2004 such thatthe bottom layer 2012 of the first printed circuit board 2002 isadjacent to the top layer 2014 of the second printed circuit board 2004.The charging surface may also include one or more interconnects providedbetween the bottom layer 2012 of the first printed circuit board 2002and the top layer 2014 of the second printed circuit board 2004.

In one example, at least one interconnect does not penetrate the toplayer 2010 of the first printed circuit board 2002. One or moreinterconnects may not penetrate the bottom layer 2016 of the secondprinted circuit board 2004. The adhesive layer 2006 may include openingsthrough which at least one interconnect passes between the first printedcircuit board 2002 and the second printed circuit board 2004.

FIG. 21 illustrates an example of a charging device 2100 manufactured inaccordance with certain aspects disclosed herein.

FIG. 22 is flowchart 2200 illustrating one example of a method fordetecting an object. The method may be performed by a controllerprovided in a wireless charging apparatus. At block 2202, the controllermay provide a pulse to a charging circuit. The pulse may have a durationthat is less than half the period of a nominal resonant frequency of thecharging circuit and is configured to cause an oscillation of thecharging circuit. In certain examples, the duration of the pulse may beless than half the period of a nominal resonant frequency of thecharging circuit. At block 2204, the controller may detect a rate ofdecay of the oscillation of the charging circuit or a frequency of theoscillation of the charging circuit. At block 2206, the controller maydetermine that a chargeable device has been placed in proximity to acoil of the charging circuit based on changes of characteristics of thecharging circuit. In one example the chargeable device modifies the rateof decay of the oscillation of the charging circuit. In another example,the chargeable device causes the frequency of oscillation of thecharging circuit to vary with respect to the resonant frequency of thecharging circuit.

In certain implementations, the controller may determine a chargingconfiguration for the chargeable device when the coil of the chargingcircuit is inductively coupled to a receiving coil in the chargeabledevice, and provide a charging current to the charging circuit inaccordance with the charging configuration. Determining the chargingconfiguration for the chargeable device may include selecting a baselinecharging configuration as the charging configuration. Determining thecharging configuration for the chargeable device may includetransmitting an active ping in accordance with standards-definedspecifications for charging the chargeable device, identifying thechargeable device from information encoded in a modulated signalreceived from the chargeable device. Determining the chargingconfiguration for the chargeable device may include negotiating thecharging configuration with the chargeable device to provide an extendedpower profile used while charging the chargeable device.

In some implementations, the controller may conduct a low-power searchof a plurality of charging coils to determine if an electrical,mechanical or magnetic characteristic of at least one charging coil hasbeen affected by an object placed in proximity to the at least onecharging coil, and configure the charging circuit to include the atleast one charging coil.

In some implementations, the controller may detect that a change incapacitance associated with at least one charging coil is indicative ofan object placed in proximity to the at least one charging coil, andconfigure the charging circuit to include the at least one chargingcoil.

Example of a Processing Circuit

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardwareimplementation for an apparatus 2300 that may be incorporated in acharging device or in a receiving device that enables a battery to bewirelessly charged. In some examples, the apparatus 2300 may perform oneor more functions disclosed herein. In accordance with various aspectsof the disclosure, an element, or any portion of an element, or anycombination of elements as disclosed herein may be implemented using aprocessing circuit 2302. The processing circuit 2302 may include one ormore processors 2304 that are controlled by some combination of hardwareand software modules. Examples of processors 2304 includemicroprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs),SoCs, ASICs, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logicdevices (PLDs), state machines, sequencers, gated logic, discretehardware circuits, and other suitable hardware configured to perform thevarious functionality described throughout this disclosure. The one ormore processors 2304 may include specialized processors that performspecific functions, and that may be configured, augmented or controlledby one of the software modules 2316. The one or more processors 2304 maybe configured through a combination of software modules 2316 loadedduring initialization, and further configured by loading or unloadingone or more software modules 2316 during operation.

In the illustrated example, the processing circuit 2302 may beimplemented with a bus architecture, represented generally by the bus2310. The bus 2310 may include any number of interconnecting buses andbridges depending on the specific application of the processing circuit2302 and the overall design constraints. The bus 2310 links togethervarious circuits including the one or more processors 2304, and storage2306. Storage 2306 may include memory devices and mass storage devices,and may be referred to herein as computer-readable media and/orprocessor-readable media. The storage 2306 may include transitorystorage media and/or non-transitory storage media.

The bus 2310 may also link various other circuits such as timingsources, timers, peripherals, voltage regulators, and power managementcircuits. A bus interface 2308 may provide an interface between the bus2310 and one or more transceivers 2312. In one example, a transceiver2312 may be provided to enable the apparatus 2300 to communicate with acharging or receiving device in accordance with a standards-definedprotocol. Depending upon the nature of the apparatus 2300, a userinterface 2318 (e.g., keypad, display, speaker, microphone, joystick)may also be provided, and may be communicatively coupled to the bus 2310directly or through the bus interface 2308.

A processor 2304 may be responsible for managing the bus 2310 and forgeneral processing that may include the execution of software stored ina computer-readable medium that may include the storage 2306. In thisrespect, the processing circuit 2302, including the processor 2304, maybe used to implement any of the methods, functions and techniquesdisclosed herein. The storage 2306 may be used for storing data that ismanipulated by the processor 2304 when executing software, and thesoftware may be configured to implement any one of the methods disclosedherein.

One or more processors 2304 in the processing circuit 2302 may executesoftware. Software shall be construed broadly to mean instructions,instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs,subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications,software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executables, threadsof execution, procedures, functions, algorithms, etc., whether referredto as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware descriptionlanguage, or otherwise. The software may reside in computer-readableform in the storage 2306 or in an external computer-readable medium. Theexternal computer-readable medium and/or storage 2306 may include anon-transitory computer-readable medium. A non-transitorycomputer-readable medium includes, by way of example, a magnetic storagedevice (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic strip), an optical disk(e.g., a compact disc (CD) or a digital versatile disc (DVD)), a smartcard, a flash memory device (e.g., a “flash drive,” a card, a stick, ora key drive), RAM, ROM, a programmable read-only memory (PROM), anerasable PROM (EPROM) including EEPROM, a register, a removable disk,and any other suitable medium for storing software and/or instructionsthat may be accessed and read by a computer. The computer-readablemedium and/or storage 2306 may also include, by way of example, acarrier wave, a transmission line, and any other suitable medium fortransmitting software and/or instructions that may be accessed and readby a computer. Computer-readable medium and/or the storage 2306 mayreside in the processing circuit 2302, in the processor 2304, externalto the processing circuit 2302, or be distributed across multipleentities including the processing circuit 2302. The computer-readablemedium and/or storage 2306 may be embodied in a computer programproduct. By way of example, a computer program product may include acomputer-readable medium in packaging materials. Those skilled in theart will recognize how best to implement the described functionalitypresented throughout this disclosure depending on the particularapplication and the overall design constraints imposed on the overallsystem.

The storage 2306 may maintain software maintained and/or organized inloadable code segments, modules, applications, programs, etc., which maybe referred to herein as software modules 2316. Each of the softwaremodules 2316 may include instructions and data that, when installed orloaded on the processing circuit 2302 and executed by the one or moreprocessors 2304, contribute to a run-time image 2314 that controls theoperation of the one or more processors 2304. When executed, certaininstructions may cause the processing circuit 2302 to perform functionsin accordance with certain methods, algorithms and processes describedherein.

Some of the software modules 2316 may be loaded during initialization ofthe processing circuit 2302, and these software modules 2316 mayconfigure the processing circuit 2302 to enable performance of thevarious functions disclosed herein. For example, some software modules2316 may configure internal devices and/or logic circuits 2322 of theprocessor 2304, and may manage access to external devices such as atransceiver 2312, the bus interface 2308, the user interface 2318,timers, mathematical coprocessors, and so on. The software modules 2316may include a control program and/or an operating system that interactswith interrupt handlers and device drivers, and that controls access tovarious resources provided by the processing circuit 2302. The resourcesmay include memory, processing time, access to a transceiver 2312, theuser interface 2318, and so on.

One or more processors 2304 of the processing circuit 2302 may bemultifunctional, whereby some of the software modules 2316 are loadedand configured to perform different functions or different instances ofthe same function. The one or more processors 2304 may additionally beadapted to manage background tasks initiated in response to inputs fromthe user interface 2318, the transceiver 2312, and device drivers, forexample. To support the performance of multiple functions, the one ormore processors 2304 may be configured to provide a multitaskingenvironment, whereby each of a plurality of functions is implemented asa set of tasks serviced by the one or more processors 2304 as needed ordesired. In one example, the multitasking environment may be implementedusing a timesharing program 2320 that passes control of a processor 2304between different tasks, whereby each task returns control of the one ormore processors 2304 to the timesharing program 2320 upon completion ofany outstanding operations and/or in response to an input such as aninterrupt. When a task has control of the one or more processors 2304,the processing circuit is effectively specialized for the purposesaddressed by the function associated with the controlling task. Thetimesharing program 2320 may include an operating system, a main loopthat transfers control on a round-robin basis, a function that allocatescontrol of the one or more processors 2304 in accordance with aprioritization of the functions, and/or an interrupt driven main loopthat responds to external events by providing control of the one or moreprocessors 2304 to a handling function.

In one implementation, the apparatus 2300 includes or operates as awireless charging apparatus that has a battery charging power sourcecoupled to a charging circuit, a plurality of charging cells and acontroller, which may be included in one or more processors 2304. Theplurality of charging cells may be configured to provide a chargingsurface. At least one coil may be configured to direct anelectromagnetic field through a charge transfer area of each chargingcell.

The controller may be configured to provide a pulse to the chargingcircuit, detect a frequency of oscillation of the charging circuitresponsive to the pulse or a rate of decay of the oscillation of thecharging circuit, and determine that a chargeable device has been placedin proximity to a coil of the charging circuit based on changes in acharacteristic of the charging circuit. The pulse may have a durationthat is less than half the period of a nominal resonant frequency of thecharging circuit.

In one example, the change in the characteristic of the charging circuitcauses a change in rate of decay of the oscillation of the chargingcircuit. In one example, the change in the characteristic of thecharging circuit causes a change in the frequency of oscillation of thecharging circuit to vary with respect to the resonant frequency of thecharging circuit.

In certain examples, the controller is configured to determine acharging configuration for the chargeable device when a coil of thecharging circuit is inductively coupled to a receiving coil in thechargeable device and provide a charging current to the charging circuitin accordance with the charging configuration. The controller may beconfigured to select a baseline charging configuration as the chargingconfiguration. The controller may be configured to transmit an activeping in accordance with standards-defined specifications for chargingthe chargeable device and identify the chargeable device frominformation encoded in a modulated signal received from the chargeabledevice. The controller may be configured to negotiate the chargingconfiguration with the chargeable device to provide an extended powerprofile used while charging the chargeable device.

In one example, the controller may be configured to conduct a low-powersearch of the charging surface to determine if an electrical, mechanicalor magnetic characteristic of at least one charging cell has beenaffected by an object placed in proximity to the at least one chargingcell and configure the charging circuit to include the at least onecharging cell.

In one example, the controller may be configured to detect that a changein capacitance associated with at least one charging cell is indicativeof an object placed in proximity to the at least one charging cell andconfigure the charging circuit to include the at least one chargingcell.

In various examples, the apparatus 2300 may have a first printed circuitboard having a top metal layer and a bottom metal layer, where a firstportion of the plurality of charging cells is provided on the top metallayer of the first printed circuit board and a second portion of theplurality of charging cells is provided on the bottom metal layer of thefirst printed circuit board. The apparatus 2300 may have a secondprinted circuit board having a top metal layer and a bottom metal layer,where a third portion of the plurality of charging cells is provided onthe top metal layer of the second printed circuit board and a fourthportion of the plurality of charging cells is provided on the bottommetal layer of the second printed circuit board. An adhesive layer maybe used to join the first printed circuit board and the second printedcircuit board such that the bottom metal layer of the first printedcircuit board is adjacent to the top metal layer of the second printedcircuit board. One or more interconnects may be provided between thebottom metal layer of the first printed circuit board and the top metallayer of the second printed circuit board.

In another implementation, the storage 2306 maintains instructions andinformation where the instructions are configured to cause the one ormore processors 2304 to provide a pulse to a charging circuit, detect arate of decay of oscillation of the charging circuit or a frequency ofthe oscillation of the charging circuit responsive to the pulse, anddetermine that a chargeable device has been placed in proximity to acoil of the charging circuit based on changes in a characteristic of thecharging circuit. The pulse may have a duration that is less than halfthe period of a nominal resonant frequency of the charging circuit.

In one example, the change in the characteristic of the charging circuitmay cause a change in rate of decay of the oscillation of the chargingcircuit. In one example, the change in the characteristic of thecharging circuit may cause the frequency of oscillation of the chargingcircuit to vary with respect to the resonant frequency of the chargingcircuit.

In various examples, the instructions may be configured to cause the oneor more processors 2304 to determine a charging configuration for thechargeable device when the coil of the charging circuit is inductivelycoupled to a receiving coil in the chargeable device, and provide acharging current to the charging circuit in accordance with the chargingconfiguration. The charging configuration for the chargeable device maybe determined by selecting a baseline charging configuration as thecharging configuration. The charging configuration for the chargeabledevice may be determined by transmitting an active ping in accordancewith standards-defined specifications for charging the chargeable deviceand identifying the chargeable device from information encoded in amodulated signal received from the chargeable device. The chargingconfiguration for the chargeable device may be determined by negotiatingthe charging configuration with the chargeable device to provide anextended power profile used while charging the chargeable device.

In one example, the instructions may be configured to cause the one ormore processors 2304 to conduct a low-power search of a plurality ofcharging coils to determine if an electrical, mechanical or magneticcharacteristic of at least one charging coil has been affected by anobject placed in proximity to the at least one charging coil, andconfigure the charging circuit to include the at least one chargingcoil.

In one example, the instructions may be configured to cause the one ormore processors 2304 to detect that a change in capacitance associatedwith at least one charging coil is indicative of an object placed inproximity to the at least one charging coil, and configure the chargingcircuit to include the at least one charging coil.

In another implementation, the apparatus 2300 includes or operates ascharging device. The charging device may have a first printed circuitboard having a top metal layer and a bottom metal layer, where a firstplurality of charging cells is provided on the top metal layer of thefirst printed circuit board and a second plurality of charging cells isprovided on the bottom metal layer of the first printed circuit board.The charging device may have a second printed circuit board having a topmetal layer and a bottom metal layer, where a third plurality ofcharging cells is provided on the top metal layer of the second printedcircuit board and a fourth plurality of charging cells is provided onthe bottom metal layer of the second printed circuit board. An adhesivelayer may join the first printed circuit board and the second printedcircuit board such that the bottom metal layer of the first printedcircuit board is adjacent to the top metal layer of the second printedcircuit board. One or more interconnects may be provided between thebottom metal layer of the first printed circuit board and the top metallayer of the second printed circuit board. In some instances, eachcharging cell in the first plurality of charging cells, the secondplurality of charging cells, the third plurality of charging cells andthe fourth plurality of charging cells may be energized independently ofthe other charging cells provided in the charging device.

In one example, at least one of the first printed circuit board and thesecond printed circuit board has one or more internal metal layersprovided between the top metal layer and the bottom metal layer.Additional charging cells may be provided on the one or more internalmetal layers.

In certain examples, the first printed circuit board and the secondprinted circuit board present a charging surface to a device to becharged. Each charging cell in the first plurality of charging cells,the second plurality of charging cells, the third plurality of chargingcells and the fourth plurality of charging cells may have a coil thatsurrounds a portion of power transfer area associated with the chargingsurface. The charging surface may correspond to the top metal layer ofthe first printed circuit board. A set of switches may be operable toselectively couple at least one charging cell in the charging device toa power source and a controller configured to select the at least onecharging cell based on an orientation or location of the device to becharged with respect to the charging surface. A detection circuit may becoupled to charging cells on at least one layer of at least one printedcircuit board, the detection circuit being configured to detectdifferences in capacitance associated with two or more charging cells.

The controller may be further configured to select the at least onecharging cell based on the differences in capacitance. The controllermay be further configured to select polarity and level of a currentprovided to the at least one charging cell based on the differences incapacitance. The controller may be further configured to determine achange in the differences in capacitance associated with the two or morecharging cells and modify the polarity or the level of the currentprovided to the at least one charging cell based on the change indifferences in capacitance. The controller may be further configured todetermine orientation or location of the device to be charged based onthe differences in capacitance. The controller may be further configuredto periodically search for the device to be charged by determiningcapacitance measured at each charging cell in a sequence of chargingcells. The sequence of charging cells may be generated pseudorandomlybetween consecutive searches. The controller may be further configuredto select a starting point for the device to be charged.

In one example, at least one interconnect does not penetrate the topmetal layer of the first printed circuit board. In one example, at leastone interconnect does not penetrate the bottom metal layer of the secondprinted circuit board. In one example, the adhesive layer includesopenings through which at least one interconnect passes between thefirst printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board. In oneexample, each of the first printed circuit board and the second printedcircuit board has a flexible printed circuit board. In one example, eachof the first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit boardhas a non-planar printed circuit board.

In another implementation, the apparatus 2300 has a flexible circuitthat includes a plurality of coils configured to present a powertransfer area along at least two axes when the flexible circuit ismounted on a battery and a power management circuit electrically coupledto the battery. The power management circuit may be configured oradapted to determine charge level of the battery, receive powertransferred wirelessly from a wireless charging source, and provide acharging current to the battery when the charge level of the battery isbelow a maximum threshold charge level and the wireless charging sourceis transferring power through one or more of the plurality of coils.

In one example, at least two axes include a pair of orthogonal axes on asurface of the battery. The flexible circuit may envelop at least aportion of the battery. In one example, the flexible circuit includes asheet material configured to provide electromagnetic shielding. Thesheet material may be positioned between the plurality of coils and thebattery when the flexible circuit is wrapped around the battery. In oneexample, the plurality of coils is formed in at least four metal layersof the flexible circuit.

The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in theart to practice the various aspects described herein. Variousmodifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilledin the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied toother aspects. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to theaspects shown herein, but is to be accorded the full scope consistentwith the language claims, wherein reference to an element in thesingular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specificallyso stated, but rather “one or more.” Unless specifically statedotherwise, the term “some” refers to one or more. All structural andfunctional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects describedthroughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known tothose of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein byreference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover,nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the publicregardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in theclaims. No claim element is to be construed under the provisions of 35U.S.C. § 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recitedusing the phrase “means for” or, in the case of a method claim, theelement is recited using the phrase “step for.”

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for detecting an object, comprising:providing a pulse to a charging circuit, wherein the pulse has aduration that is less than half the period of a nominal resonantfrequency of the charging circuit and is configured to cause anoscillation of the charging circuit; detecting a rate of decay of theoscillation of the charging circuit or a frequency of the oscillation ofthe charging circuit; and determining that a chargeable device has beenplaced in proximity to a coil of the charging circuit based on changesin a characteristic of the charging circuit.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein a change in the characteristic of the charging circuit causes achange in rate of decay of the oscillation of the charging circuit. 3.The method of claim 1, wherein a change in the characteristic of thecharging circuit causes the frequency of the oscillation of the chargingcircuit to vary with respect to the nominal resonant frequency of thecharging circuit.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:determining a charging configuration for the chargeable device when thecoil of the charging circuit is inductively coupled to a receiving coilin the chargeable device; and providing a charging current to thecharging circuit in accordance with the charging configuration.
 5. Themethod of claim 4, wherein determining the charging configuration forthe chargeable device comprises: selecting a baseline chargingconfiguration as the charging configuration.
 6. The method of claim 4,wherein determining the charging configuration for the chargeable devicecomprises: transmitting an active ping in accordance withstandards-defined specifications for charging the chargeable device; andidentifying the chargeable device from information encoded in amodulated signal received from the chargeable device.
 7. The method ofclaim 4, wherein determining the charging configuration for thechargeable device comprises: negotiating the charging configuration withthe chargeable device to provide an extended power profile used whilecharging the chargeable device.
 8. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: conducting a low-power search of a plurality of chargingcoils to determine if an electrical, mechanical or magneticcharacteristic of at least one charging coil has been affected by anobject placed in proximity to the at least one charging coil; andconfiguring the charging circuit to include the at least one chargingcoil.
 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: detecting that achange in capacitance associated with at least one charging coil isindicative of an object placed in proximity to the at least one chargingcoil; and configuring the charging circuit to include the at least onecharging coil.
 10. A wireless charging apparatus, comprising: a batterycharging power source coupled to a charging circuit; a plurality ofcharging cells configured to provide a charging surface, wherein atleast one coil is configured to direct an electromagnetic field througha charge transfer area of each charging cell; and a controllerconfigured to: provide a pulse to a charging circuit, wherein the pulsehas a duration that is less than half the period of a nominal resonantfrequency of the charging circuit and is configured to cause anoscillation of the charging circuit; detect a rate of decay of theoscillation of the charging circuit or a frequency of the oscillation ofthe charging circuit; and determine that a chargeable device has beenplaced in proximity to a coil of the charging circuit based on changesin a characteristic of the charging circuit.
 11. The wireless chargingapparatus of claim 10, wherein a change in the characteristic of thecharging circuit causes a change in rate of decay of the oscillation ofthe charging circuit.
 12. The wireless charging apparatus of claim 10,wherein a change in the characteristic of the charging circuit causesthe frequency of the oscillation of the charging circuit to vary withrespect to the nominal resonant frequency of the charging circuit. 13.The wireless charging apparatus of claim 10, wherein the controller isconfigured to: determine a charging configuration for the chargeabledevice when a coil of the charging circuit is inductively coupled to areceiving coil in the chargeable device; and provide a charging currentto the charging circuit in accordance with the charging configuration.14. The wireless charging apparatus of claim 13, wherein the controlleris configured to: select a baseline charging configuration as thecharging configuration.
 15. The wireless charging apparatus of claim 13,wherein the controller is configured to: transmit an active ping inaccordance with standards-defined specifications for charging thechargeable device; and identify the chargeable device from informationencoded in a modulated signal received from the chargeable device. 16.The wireless charging apparatus of claim 13, wherein the controller isconfigured to: negotiate the charging configuration with the chargeabledevice to provide an extended power profile used while charging thechargeable device.
 17. The wireless charging apparatus of claim 10,wherein the controller is configured to: conduct a low-power search ofthe charging surface to determine if an electrical, mechanical ormagnetic characteristic of at least one charging cell has been affectedby an object placed in proximity to the at least one charging cell; andconfigure the charging circuit to include the at least one chargingcell.
 18. The wireless charging apparatus of claim 10, wherein thecontroller is configured to: detect that a change in capacitanceassociated with at least one charging cell is indicative of an objectplaced in proximity to the at least one charging cell; and configure thecharging circuit to include the at least one charging cell.
 19. Thewireless charging apparatus of claim 10, further comprising: a firstprinted circuit board having a top metal layer and a bottom metal layer,wherein a first portion of the plurality of charging cells is providedon the top metal layer of the first printed circuit board and a secondportion of the plurality of charging cells is provided on the bottommetal layer of the first printed circuit board; a second printed circuitboard having a top metal layer and a bottom metal layer, wherein a thirdportion of the plurality of charging cells is provided on the top metallayer of the second printed circuit board and a fourth portion of theplurality of charging cells is provided on the bottom metal layer of thesecond printed circuit board; and an adhesive layer joining the firstprinted circuit board and the second printed circuit board such that thebottom metal layer of the first printed circuit board is adjacent to thetop metal layer of the second printed circuit board.
 20. The wirelesscharging apparatus of claim 19, further comprising: one or moreinterconnects provided between the bottom metal layer of the firstprinted circuit board and the top metal layer of the second printedcircuit board.